Activism: Fighting For Transgender Rights In Philadelphia

During the Obama administration, federal guidelines released called on public schools to allow transgender students to be able to choose the bathroom facility according to their self-professed gender identity. On Feb. 22, 2017, President Trump’s administration notified the U.S. Supreme Court that they would be withdrawing this guidance and felt that this was a focus for state-level governments rather than a national issue.

“It’s wrong for the administration…our administration, to turn a blind eye to a legal discrimination that negatively impacts the health and well-being of transgender students,” said Mayor Kenney about the federal administration’s actions. “And the executive order released last week reversing the federal guidance that requires the nation’s public schools to protect transgender students is clearly saying that they do not have our kids backs.”

This is not the first difference of opinion Mayor Kenney and President Trump have had. Shortly after his inauguration in January, Trump made statements about sanctuary cities no longer being able to continue as such and he threatened blocking federal grants following the new executive orders. Kenney quickly acknowledged that the city will continue to be a sanctuary for documented and undocumented immigrants alike.

Transgender rights and protection-based laws have ebbed and flowed in the last few years, on both national and state levels, with bathroom rights for transgender people often coming into question. Philadelphia’s leaders of the transgender community are taking a stand against the current federal administration to keep the rights for all and work towards gaining the rights that their local and national communities still lack.

“I’m here to tell you that in Philadelphia, transgender people, students and adults, you are still protected. You are protected from discrimination…” statedPhiladelphia Commission on Human Relations‘ Rue Landau. “You cannot be discriminated against just because of your gender identity.”